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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Ask Giles and/or Alex Anything

    The Resource Centre
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    • Mister_BrueM
      Mister_Brue
      Raw and Unwashed
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      This post is deleted!
      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Hamza YunusH
        Hamza Yunus
        Banned
        Joined:

        hey everyone, @Giles @Alex @Kasi @labrat @T4920
        I have a question for iron-birds. What type of indigo is used for IH jeans or jackets, Indian indigo, or indigo grown in Tokushima, Japan?
        Which type of indigo stands out more in the final product? What would the price difference be for the same pair of jeans if made individually with Indian indigo versus Tokushima-grown Japanese indigo?
        Furthermore, I’d like to know if "natural indigo" is simply a marketing term, similar to "faux leather" or "faux shearling." How chemically pure is natural indigo? Does it still contain impurities like indigo-rubins or others? Also, what are the distinctions between natural, organic, and other types of indigo used in the Aizome dyeing process?

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • GilesG
          Giles
          IHUK Crew
          Joined:

          Some of these questions are industry type questions that I don't really know the answers to. And the ones specific to Iron heart, I don't know the answer to either, and if I asked Haraki, he'd say, what does it matter? His basic premise is, does what I choose to use do the job I need it to do, if yes then sort of end-of.

          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

          last edited by Giles Hamza YunusH 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • Hamza YunusH
            Hamza Yunus
            Banned
            Joined:

            Got it, @Giles!
            My next question was going to be about the origin of the cotton-like how Momotaro uses Zimbabwean cotton—but I suppose I’ll keep those kinds of questions to myself now. 🙂

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • GilesG
              Giles
              IHUK Crew
              Joined:

              Actually my answer to your first question was ill considered, I have updated it.

              This is a more IH specific question, so I know the answer.

              We don't use Zimbabwean cotton because Haraki says that it gives the denim a green caste that he dislikes.

              So we use US.

              "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

              last edited by seawolfS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • Hamza YunusH
                Hamza Yunus
                Banned
                Joined:

                @Giles thanks for brushing up on your answer.
                US cotton mostly comes from Texas .. so Texan cotton, I guess

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • GilesG
                  Giles
                  IHUK Crew
                  Joined:

                  I guess.....

                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • Hamza YunusH
                    Hamza Yunus
                    Banned
                    Joined:

                    @Giles Yes, indigo is initially green in its reduced (unoxidized) state and turns blue upon oxidation. That could be related to the type of cotton and the indigo used in the dyeing process. The Indigofera plant is green. how amazingly chemical processes turn green to blue hues.

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • Hamza YunusH
                      Hamza Yunus
                      Banned @Giles
                      Joined:

                      @Giles you are right .. it's like asking the BOSS slub number for slub-denim .. anyway, Thanks for the golden words

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • GilesG
                        Giles
                        IHUK Crew
                        Joined:

                        I get too many of the "what the fuck have you been smoking looks?" as it is.....

                        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • Hamza YunusH
                          Hamza Yunus
                          Banned
                          Joined:

                          Hahahha .. the legend himself can say anything and still get away with it .. Welcome to the club !!

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • Hamza YunusH
                            Hamza Yunus
                            Banned
                            Joined:

                            @Giles, have you ever considered enhancing the visual appeal of the jeans by adding the best pictures showcasing the patina, fades, whiskers, and wrinkles corresponding to each pair? This could highlight the denim's character and craftsmanship.
                            just a thought!
                            or a separate image gallery for fades for each pair of jeans...

                            last edited by Hamza Yunus goosehdG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • goosehdG
                              goosehd
                              Mod Squad
                              @Hamza Yunus
                              Joined:

                              @Hamza-Yunus See here: https://www.ironheart.co.uk/content/hall-of-fades

                              "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                              last edited by GilesG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • Hamza YunusH
                                Hamza Yunus
                                Banned
                                Joined:

                                @goosehd thanks a lot

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                • seawolfS
                                  seawolf
                                  Mod Squad
                                  @Giles
                                  Joined:

                                  @Giles Do you happen to remember around what year IH stopped using Zimbabwean cotton? Wondering if I have some green caste denim in my closet. I suspect my first pair of 634S might be a little green but now it just feels like confirmation bias.

                                  “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                                  @zeebeeleather

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • KasiK
                                    Kasi
                                    見習いボス
                                    Joined:

                                    My guess would be 2016 onwards

                                    The world's insane
                                    While you drink champagne
                                    And I'm livin' in black rain 4Q 🖕

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • GilesG
                                      Giles
                                      IHUK Crew
                                      Joined:

                                      No way before that.....I'd say 2010 ish....

                                      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                      last edited by seawolfS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • GilesG
                                        Giles
                                        IHUK Crew
                                        @goosehd
                                        Joined:

                                        @goosehd said in Ask Giles Anything:

                                        @Hamza-Yunus See here: https://www.ironheart.co.uk/content/hall-of-fades

                                        Thanks @goosehd and once we have the new website up and running @AdamJ will be updating and overhauling that section....

                                        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                        • seawolfS
                                          seawolf
                                          Mod Squad
                                          @Giles
                                          Joined:

                                          @Giles So it's possible that my first pair are Zimbabwean, but unlikely. Thanks!

                                          “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible” - Don Norman

                                          @zeebeeleather

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • cityofdelusionC
                                            cityofdelusion
                                            Joined:

                                            Not sure if it's something you guys want to do for the updated hall of fades section, but I'd suggest to include photos of someone actually wearing the faded pants, maybe even matching them with different outfit combinations to highlight the "real-life" fades/evo.

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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